The Throw-Aways

That next morning at twelve thirty, I woke up and started to walk outside. I didn’t need my car because it was only a ten minute journey. My destination was the old church. My mission was to go and hang out with the band.

Even as I turned from Grandeur Street down the highway to the west, I couldn’t believe I was going. Jay was going to be there and so was Brenna.

Ugh, Brenna.

She was one of those preppy girls in Jay’s clique who thought she was the best musician. It was like it was a privilege to hear her play the piano. In all honesty, she wasn’t the best pianist. I had heard better from the four year old my mom used to give lessons to. Just because she had been playing for five years meant that she was instantly “good”.

Brenna used to be a pretty sweet girl, but then she drifted to the dark side and just being in Jay’s presence gave her an ego boost. I had mourned the loss of a nice girl, but you can’t stop all people from turning to the dark side.

It turns out that they don’t have cookies.

My thoughts stopped abruptly, as I saw that Austin was waiting outside. He smiled as I came up. The rest of the boys were mumbling about in the warm afternoon sun.

“Hey.” He greeted as I came up against the shadows of the old church. It seemed like a home away from home. I was actually a little excited to be having my favorite band in the church and getting to kind of show them around. Then again, I was absolutely disgusted that Jay and Brenna would be tainting the ancient air with their disgusting reek of the perfume they showered in. Most of all, I was repulsed at the idea that Brenna would be touching Blest.

I should’ve brought some disinfectant with me.

“So you’re here to listen to Brenna?” I asked him. Austin nodded, eyes gleaming.

“You didn’t rig Blest to explode, did you?” He chuckled. I laughed, trying to ease myself into the conversation when a word caught my attention.

Blest. Blest. Blest.

How did he know my piano’s name?

“Um, no, I didn’t. Why would I?” My chuckled turned on its side uneasily as I pondered how he knew the piano’s name. No, I hadn’t ever told him that. It was our little secret between the instrument and I.

“Oh, no reason.” He bit his lip and shoved his hands into his pockets. What had just happened? Why did he ask? Did he know I hated Jay? How had he guessed the name of the piano?

“Hey, R-Girl!” Alan teased and pulled me into a hug. I laughed and stuck my tongue out at the boy. He seemed to have energy that matched up to Kylar’s.

“Hey, how’d you know my nickname?” I asked him. He smirked and teased me.

“Magical powers!” Aaron cheered as he came up. A car came flying in from town and started to park alongside Forsaken Road. I knew from the expensive look that it was Jay’s car.

“Sure, and I’m a unicorn.” I muttered and saw the other girls walk out.

Okay, Raven. Hold yourself together. Don’t act badly in front of the band! I thought over and over to myself as the two preps approached. I hoped for the sake of all of us that Jay would hold herself together as well.

“Austin!” Her high voice cheered excitedly as she approached. The red haired girl trailed behind, riding her ego like a wave. Austin seemed to raise his eyebrows as Tino grumbled that no one ever screamed his name.

“Hello, Jay, Brenna.” He greeted each one. I glanced over at the two girls hidden behind their sunglasses and skimpy shirts. As I caught myself staring, I heard Jay’s sweet voice called my name.

“Oh, hello there Raven! Are you here to listen to Brenna play the piano? Isn’t she just the greatest musician?” Her wicked smile made me look away and bite my lip nervously.

Just hold it together for the next twenty minutes.

“Oh, yes. The band invited me down with them.” I tried to plaster on a fake smile. Austin moved an inch closer to me, creating an overprotective shadow beside me. The rest of the band huddled close behind.

I saw Brenna’s eyes widen in fear as we entered the church. I could almost hear Blest scream out at the sight of Jay and Brenna. She hated them just as much as I did.

I probably shouldn’t repeat the words she silently yelled at them.

“So are you ready, Brenna? Don’t be nervous, we’re people to!” Phil encouraged. We all stood in the front row. The pew was just stable enough to hold us, so Tino, Alan, and Aaron sat down on it. Austin, Phil, and I remained standing.

“How old is this thing?” I heard Brenna mutter. Blest just raged on. I would have to mentally scold her for saying such rude words! The girls probably thought that no one could hear them, but in the sanctuary it was echoing.

“Fifty years old, actually. From the time of assembly to now, she’s fifty.” I responded firmly. They could bash me all they wanted to, but I wouldn’t let anyone talk down such a treasure! Austin beamed at me.

“Oh. Why would someone keep such a Throw-Away?” Brenna wondered out loud.

Oh.

No.

She.

Didn’t.

I just shrugged and tossed the comment aside. I could tell Jay was glaring at me from under the shades, but I just avoided her gaze. Inside, I raged so far on that I was tempted to axe murder someone right here and now.

“Because then the town would burn in flames.” I muttered softly. Austin must’ve heard me because he patted my shoulder softly.

“Whenever you’re ready.” Austin said to Brenna. She nodded and took a shaky breath. I could tell she was nervous as her hands touched the broken keys.

GET THIS GIRL OFF OF MY BENCH!!! Blest raged. I could imagine her voice carrying through the church, setting of sirens, shattering glass, causing pure hell to erupt from the middle of earth.

Jay whispered in Brenna’s ear, but no one could hear. Brenna only nodded and started play a soft piece. The birds stopped twittering outside as she played.

Now, I am a respectful musician and will not bash anyone (unlike Jay) so I wouldn’t say she played horrible. No, I am a better musician than saying that it was dreadful.

All I would say is that I think she played American Idiot by Green Day, but she must’ve forgotten a sharp of flat here and there because it sounded off at the chorus. She didn’t sing a word and went twenty beats under tempo, but at least she tried her hardest.

Right?

We all pleasantly clapped for Brenna and Jay seemed to be the loudest. Looking over at the boys’ faces, I saw that Phil was trying to maintain a thin grin, Tino had a poker face, Alan looked at the floor, Aaron tried to hide a yawn, and Austin was smiling.

I couldn’t read Austin. It was like he was a cryptic message.

Going back to my crossed arms, I waited out the last two pieces. All the while, I imagined what Blest would be yelling.

During I Write Sins, Not Tragedies: NO, PLEASE JUST STOP. YOU’RE HITTING THE KEYS WAAAAY TO HARD. OW, OW, OW, OW, OW….

During Helena: No, no, no, no, no, no….Just. No.

So three pieces later, Brenna looked absolutely terrified, completely white faced, and had that deer in the headlights look. We all clapped for her, of course. It was only because we were doing it for her.

“Wasn’t she just amaaazing?” Jay rolled out the word. Um, good, maybe. Amazing? That’s debatable. I bit my lip and refrained from commenting or booking out the doors. Jay had her sights set on me.

“Oh, it was very good.” Alan added, trying to fill in the empty space that followed. Everyone was trying to search for the right words.

“So when are we going to find out?” Brenna asked warily. Austin and the boys held up their hand for a group meeting a few feet away. They discussed as I went up to the piano, gently running my hand over the frame and trying to soothe the anger that could almost be steaming off the chipped wood.

“So have you tried out, R?” Jay asked, a bit of a sneer taunting her voice. Brenna glared at me after getting off the bench. I backed up a few feet away from the piano, staring out into the pews and thinking of the calmest way I could answer.

“Um….” I started, just looking at them. Jay pushed towards the piano.

GET. AWAY. Blest screamed. The lid was propped open and I saw each worn hammer in the instrument. I glanced over and saw the band look to us before going back and discussing.

“Oh, Raven! You should play a piece for them! Wouldn’t they love it?” Her voice dripped of fake happiness. I held a straight face and forced my legs to root to the spot.

What could I do?

“Oh, it’s easy!” Jay went up, going and resting her hands on the keys.

She barely touched the worn wood when the piano lid snapped closed unexpectedly. The prop had slipped and lay on the floor, as if some invisible hand had tossed it aside and let the lid slam shut.

Jay screeched from the loud BANG and leaped backwards. Everyone snapped their attention back to me. Both girls looked as white as a sheet.

SUCKERS! Blest cheered in invisible excitement. I almost died on the floor laughing. Blest could take care of herself and knew how to give people a good scare!

The band walked over to us, ready to give their answer.

“Raven should play for you guys!” Jay cheered as if nothing happened. I bit my lip and glanced to Austin. What would he say?

“Um…” I started, trying to debate if I should let myself be humiliated by either play or declining.

“Oh, she’s already played for us.” Austin replied easily. Thinking as hard as possible, I mentally thanked him for saving me. But how did he know I didn’t want to do it?

The rest of the band looked a little confused but didn’t question it. The singer already launched into the details of what next.

“So we’re going to discuss later today about all our options. Remember that we did have other in different states that we checked out.” Austin reminded us. Oh, I knew.

“We have a fairly certain idea of who we want with us, so we’ll probably contact that person within the next day or so.” Aaron jumped in. Austin glanced at me, raising his eyebrows as I turned and tried to look interested in a broken window.

“With the new keyboardist, we’ll give whoever it is the rest of the month on our break to hang out, get to know us, be more comfortable, and start practicing and learning the songs. This will just help get the new member’s confidence up and be ready to go on stage.” He nodded and happily enounced each word to Jay and Brenna. Jay just looked as if she won the spot herself.

“Oh, wonderful!” Jay clapped her hands excitedly. I guess our little session was over. Jay and Brenna waved goodbye and climbed in their car and sped away. I told my dad I would be with the band today and he was okay with it.

“So you finally found someone?” I asked Phil and Tino as they stood around. The other three were huddled a ways away.

“Yep! Austin was telling us about the person earlier this morning! We think we’ll be very happy with this musician.” Phil stated proudly, squinting a little from the glint of the sun.

“So you don’t really have to discuss it any further?” I smirked, thinking of the empty words they told Brenna to not make her feel bad. Tino nodded and shook out his hair that was falling in his face.

“Of course. We’ll talk to the person later tonight, actually.” Alan interrupted, coming to join us. My stomach twisted in knots. I both wanted them to consider me and I was scared at the possibility of ever being an option.

Something told me they had considered me an option, even for a moment.

Notes

AL;SKDJF;ALKDSJF;ASLKJ

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